James b



(No Model.)'

J. B WHITAKER.

BOOK SUPPORT FOR WRITING DESKS. 110,276,514.

Patented Apr. 24, 1883. I

umlmu Ill! lll l WITNESSES p v N PETERQ. PhakoLhhngl-Jphzr. Washington. I10.

UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES B.-WHITAKER, or LORETTO, VIRGINIA.

BOOK-SUPPORTJFOR WRl TlNG-DESKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,514, dated April 24,1883, Application filed February 19, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern H Be it known that I, JAMES B. WHITAKER, of Loretto, in the countyofEssex and State of Virginia, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Book-Supports for Writing-Desks; and 'I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and inwhich- Figure l is a perspective view of a desk provided with my improved book-support, and Fig. 2 is a top view of one of the frames.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

My invention has relation to book-supports for writing-desks; and it has for its object to provide adjustable supports for one or two books upon a writing-desk, whereby a person may have both books in any desired position to each other for the convenience of the person reading or writing in the books, or comparing the'books, or entering from one book into another; and it consists in the improved construction and combination of parts ofthe same, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

The frames upon which the books are placed, and which are adjustably fastenedupon the desk, consist of two side bars, A A, having three or more slots, B, in which the ends of three cross-pieces, O' G and D, slide. The middle cross-piece, D, is fiat at both ends and round at the middle, while the upper and lower cross-pieces, O, are preferably flat through their entire length, so that the side bars may be slid in and out upon them, according to the width of the book placed upon the frame, they being provided with two pivoted arms,E, upon their upper sides near the middle, which serve to hold the edges of the leaves down, keeping the book open.

Thelid of the desk is provided with a slide or way, F, having inward-turned flanges G, in which slides an upright, H, having sideward-extending flanges I at its lower end, which extend under the flanges G of the way, while its upper end is provided with a transverse perforation,J, in which the central round portion of cross-piece D of one of the frames position while its contents are compared with or entered into the book upon the lower frame, which likewise may be adjusted in any desired position, I and that the upper frame may be turned around upon its pivot, so.that access may be had to it from the other side of the desk.

Having thus described my invention, Iclaim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States-- In a writing-desk, the combination of the side pieces, A, having pivoted arms E and slots B, flat cross-pieces 0, middle cross-piece, D, uprights H and L, having transverse perforations J and M, and the desk having way F in its lid, as and for the purpose shown and set forth.

In testimony thatI claim the foregoing as my own Ihave hereunto affixed my signature in presenceof two witnesses. I

JAMES B. WHITAKER.

Witnesses:

I THOMAS L. OOATES,

J osEPII M. BALnERsoN. 

